Arboricultural Services

Orbit plans to run a new procurement exercise in 2026/27 in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and public procurement regulations to appoint suppliers to a framework to deliver standard arboricultural works across the Midlands, South and East of England.

This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice serves as an opportunity for suppliers to have their say and offer feedback to help inform the development of the requirements prior to release of the tender (estimated June 2026).

This Notice is intended to provide information to help Orbit:

• Set appropriate lots
• Service emergency works efficiently for all parties
• Decide what procurement procedure to adopt
• Decide what framework structure is most appropriate

Orbit Group is a Registered Social Landlord, responsible for managing over 46,000 homes for both affordable rent and shared ownership across the Midlands, East of England and Southeast.

A significant part of this overall responsibility includes proactive management and maintenance of estate grounds, woodlands, tree belts, ponds and greenspaces that fall within the Employer's land occupancy jurisdiction. Occasionally trees located in tenants' gardens may require attention.

The scope is anticipated to include standard tree work services, such as:

• Reactive tree work (Work to be undertaken within 3 months).
• Planned tree work (Work with a timescale over 12 months).
• Planting of new and replacement trees.
• 24-hour emergency call-out service.
• Various other related tree maintenance services as and when required.

Tree work operations will include common tree surgery tasks, such as removal of deadwood, crown lifting, crown reductions, tree removals, stump grinding, hedge reductions and trimming.

It is estimated that the value and duration of the framework could be c. £6 million over a potential 5-year period. We are considering procuring an open framework under the new Procurement Regulations 2024, which could be reopened during the term, to allow additional suppliers to join the framework, and run for up to eight years in total.

The planned start date for the new framework is Autumn/Winter 2026. Orbit is likely to conduct an Open Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 to appoint contractors to the framework, and this is currently programmed to commence in May/June 2026. Orbit envisages a contract mobilisation period of at least 1 month prior to the framework commencing.

SME organisations are encouraged to apply, and share their knowledge and experience as part of the pre-market engagement, particularly any concerns/issues they have previously experienced in responding to public sector tenders.

Orbit Group Limited is publishing this notice to facilitate early engagement with potential suppliers. It relates only to pre-procurement market engagement in accordance with Procurement Act 2023. It is not a Call for Competition.

For avoidance of doubt, participation in this market engagement exercise is not a prerequisite to bid for the tender.

Orbit reserves the right to revisit any of the information within this Notice and update or amend it prior to the publication of its Tender Notice for this procurement.

Lots

This procurement was divided into 9 lots, each awarded separately.